The Chinese government is heavily investing in military research and development

The
Pentagon recently noted that China's evolving military could be on track for a
complete overhaul by 2020 Reuters reports.
China reportedly spends about $160 billion USD each year on its military
development, and other global super powers are anxiously watching.

For example, the J-20
stealth jet program should be operational within the next seven years, and
China's navy recently began sea trials of its first aircraft carrier. The former Soviet ship was retrofitted to be an aircraft
carrier -- and it will take a few more years before China can develop its own
aircraft carriers.

At a time
when U.S. defense spending is under pressure, lawmakers are worried about
China's military and space program spending.

Even the
U.S. State Department is becoming annoyed with China’s advancements, brazenly
questioning its motives. "We would welcome
any kind of explanation that China would like to give for needing
this kind of equipment,” read a statement issued by the U.S. State Department
last month. “We have had concerns for some time and we've been quite open
with them with regard to the lack of transparency from China regarding its
power projection and its lack of access and denial of capabilities."

Chinese officials continue to defend their country's evolving military, saying
they hope to work with Washington. "Despite continued gaps in some key
areas, large quantities of antiquated hardware and a lack of operational
experience, the PLA (China's People's Liberation Army) is steadily closing the technological
gap with modern armed forces," stated a report covering
China's 2010 military development.

Continued
economic turmoil in Japan has given China added confidence that it can be the
standout Asian superpower, while the communist nation continues to woo foreign
companies to invest inside its vast borders.

Comments

Threshold

Username

Password

remember me

This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled

Yep, same old song and dance that DoD put on during the Cold War era. Of course, it DID help us keep ahead of the Soviet Union, who tried desperately to keep up with us, and were successful in stealing plenty of technological secrets from us during that time.

But, much like the USSR proved, all the modern technology doesn't mean a thing if you don't have dedicated, educated professionals to use it, who have the freedom to think on their feet and lead on the battlefield. Communist doctrine in battle is typically to follow the directions handed down by the "big boys" back home, even if you realize it doesn't work, and good luck to you if you decide to do anything else, even if it's successful. Free thinking was never much encouraged then, in the USSR, and I'd bet now, in China.

You think it was only the USSR that stole from the US? and not the other way around? The USSR and today Russia still have plenty of technology worthy to be stole even by the US!

Let me get this straight the US soldiers are dedicated and professional? if that's the case then what was the whole deal about putting your prisoners naked and taking pictures? Or about when they just drove over dead bodies? A battlefield is a nasty place and for your own good you better leave your moral and education at home...

Compared to your Chinese draftee, who is much the same as the conscripts (draftees) that the USSR had, then yes, our volunteer military is much more dedicated and professional.

China has won most modern wars by simple attrition. They may not have the technology advantage, but if they can overwhelm you by sheer numbers, they win. Take a good look at Korean War history, and how many of their soldiers they were willing to throw away, in trying to take an anonymous hill.